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Canada lynx. (Image Credit: Dreamstime)
By Erika Rolling
Fish and Wildlife

Two Peace Region men plead guilty in illegal hunting case

Jul 14, 2026 | 12:42 PM

An over two-year-long investigation into the illegal harvesting of cougars and Canada lynx across Alberta has resulted in eight people pleading guilty to 13 offences under Alberta’s Wildlife Act.

The investigation started in January of 2024, when fish and wildlife officers began investigating a Drayton Valley man, Byron Stewart, owner of Tracks n Trails Outfitting. Investigators revealed Stewart had guided a resident hunter to kill a male cougar out of season.

Upon further investigation, officers found evidence of eleven illegally guided hunts across the province, involving eight non-resident hunters and three Alberta hunters.

Search warrants across Alberta and B.C. uncovered eleven cougar skins and skulls, as well as five Canada lynx skins. All were seized by authorities.

Alberta Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Services were able to identify the hunters, and convictions resulted in $135,500 in combined fines and 18.5 years’ worth of hunting prohibitions and related court orders.

The hunters who were charged and pleaded guilty are:

  • Byron Stewart, Cindy Stewart and Devin Hyde of Drayton Valley, AB
  • Jody Janzer of Kitscoty, AB
  • Luke Viravec of DeBolt, AB
  • Garrett Patton of Worsley, AB
  • Joshua Owens of New Braunfels, Texas
  • Arnold Compton of Excello, Missouri

Anyone with information about suspicious hunting or fishing activity is encouraged to contact the 24-hour Report A Poacher line at 1-800-642-3800 or report online at alberta.ca/report-poacher.aspx. Reports can be made anonymously and may qualify for a reward.

by Erika Rolling